Compare towns
Hooksett vs Dummerston vs Calais vs Pelham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hooksett has the most renters (19.4% rent).
Dummerston has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Calais has the most kids (22.5% under 18).
Pelham has the most expensive homes ($553k median).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Hooksett | Dummerston | Calais | Pelham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,057Highest |
2,090 |
1,713Lowest |
14,449 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
45.6±11.7Highest 17% above U.S. |
42±8.6 8% above U.S. |
41.5±2.7 7% above U.S. |
| Dummerston and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.4%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.7%±6 U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
22%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Calais and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.3%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.3%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.5%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dummerston and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
58.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
40% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.4%±3.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hooksett and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $117,962±$11k 46% above U.S. |
$101,696±$21k 26% above U.S. |
$100,625±$27kLowest 25% above U.S. |
$135,956±$19kHighest 68% above U.S. |
| Pelham and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $407,000±$26k 22% above U.S. |
$335,300±$22kLowest about the U.S. average |
$390,300±$36k 17% above U.S. |
$552,600±$27kHighest 66% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$206Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,392±$126Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,408±$392 about the U.S. average |
$1,425±$88 about the U.S. average |
| Hooksett and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,554 110% above U.S. |
$4,536Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$6,586 111% above U.S. |
$8,634Highest 177% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±32.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
49%±38.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.3%±12.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pelham and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.9%±10.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.4%±7.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dummerston and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #30 of 120 in NH | — | — | #48 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hooksett School District | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Pelham School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Pelham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 10.4 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.